Sports & Recreation

Coach Walls serves up some effective ways to help kids fight obesity all year long, and improve their game

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 5 people between the ages of 6 to 19 has obesity, which is excess body fat. A contributing factor to this problem is taking in more calories than are being burned. While it’s recommended that children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day, many are falling short. There are millions of young people who participate in sports, but when their season is over for their sport of choice, they often don’t know what to do to keep fit until it starts back up again. The good news is there are things parents can do to help their kids keep fit during the off season.

Northern Virginia owners, George and Linda Meyers, of Cook in Tuscany, Cook in Mexico and Cook in Cuba debuted ‘Cook, Eat, Play, Travel’, their online, video diary of their worldwide travels and journeys. They are always asked about life “outside” of their culinary tours in Tuscany, Mexico and Cuba, so they started documenting their adventures. Named one of the top 15 Foodie Destinations by USA Today, the Meyers created Cook, Eat, Play, Travel to allow people around the world to experience some of their culinary travel adventures online. To view or learn more, go to www.cookeatplaytravel.com.

There’s a lot of good reasons for teens to engage in exercising regularly and stay fit. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that students who are physically active tend to have better grades, that higher physical fitness levels are associated with improved cognitive performance, and that those who participate in physical activities have fewer disciplinary problems. Add to that the fact that they will be laying the foundation for a healthy lifestyle and creating great habits, and it’s a great deal all around. Yet many teens and their parents have questions about fitness that may be holding them back.

Kids around the country are playing organized sports more than ever today. In fact, The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) reports that youth in the country participating in sports went from around 18 million in 1987 to 60 million in 2008. While that’s good news, because of the many benefits that can be gained from keeping them active, there is also a downside that health professionals are beginning to caution parents about – early specialization and overtraining, both of which can become problematic and become detrimental for young athletes.

If you are someone who likes to fish, you are not alone. In fact, according to The Outdoor Foundation’s special report on fishing, around 46 million Americans participate in fishing. They also report that 81% of the time, the fishing experience is unplanned. People just decide on a whim that they want to go out fishing. Especially for those who want to just grab and go, they need an easy way to get their fishing gear to their destination. The last thing they want to do is wrestle with multiple containers, leaving them with too much to keep track of and carry. Now, a new company has changed that, modernizing how people head out to go fishing.

Those looking to get and stay fit may need look no further than their smartphone, desktop computer, or wrist. The many apps, wearables, and online fitness programs that are available today are helping to motivate people to get off the couch and start getting physical. In the January 2017 issue of the journal Frontiers in Public Health, researchers report that fitness technology, which includes apps and trackers, has become increasingly popular and that it has the potential to significantly impact public health, research, and policies. However, most people don’t know much about them. The more they know about the fitness technology tools, the better they will be able to choose one that will fit their lifestyle and goals.

Are you looking to put meaning behind your daily workout routine? According to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, over 57 million Americans belong to health clubs around the country. Now, athletic enthusiasts can turn one of their workouts into an effective way to help family members who have lost a loved one doing the most dangerous job in the military – explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), or bomb disposal, by taking part in the EOD 133 Memorial Workout.

“Dedicating one of your workouts to fallen EOD warriors is a great way to honor them and raise awareness about this important cause,” explains Nicole Motsek, executive director of the EOD Warrior Foundation.